Dahlia plant named ‘Bahamas’

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct cultivar of  Dahlia  plant named ‘Bahamas’ characterized by its red ray floret color, RHS 53A; compact plant habit; and vigorous growth habit.

Genus and species of the plant claimed: Dahlia (hybrid).

Variety denomination: ‘Bahamas’.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present Invention relates to a new and distinct cultivar of Dahliaplant, botanically known as a Dahlia (hybrid), and hereinafter referredto by the name ‘Bahamas’. The new cultivar ‘Bahamas’ is a product of aplanned breeding program and was selected by the Inventor, Jan SkjoldKnudsen, in Fyn, Denmark. The new cultivar ‘Bahamas’ originated from across made by the Inventor between the Dahlia cultivar designated‘Borneo’ (unpatented) as the female parent and the Dahlia cultivardesignated ‘Lauren’ (patented as ‘DAPADRED’ in the U.S. Plant Pat. No.11,671) as the male parent.

Asexual reproduction by cuttings of the new variety in Fyn, Denmark hasdemonstrated that the combination of characteristics as described hereinfor ‘Bahamas’ are firmly fixed and are retained through successivegenerations of asexual reproduction. The new variety reproduces true totype.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

‘Bahamas’ has not been tested under all available environmentalconditions and the phenotype may vary with variations in environmentalconditions such as temperature, light intensity, day length andhumidity, without a change in genotype of the plant.

The following traits have been repeatedly observed and are determined tobe the unique characteristics of ‘Bahamas’. The followingcharacteristics in combination distinguish ‘Bahamas’ as a new anddistinct cultivar:

-   -   1. Red ray floret color, RHS 53A;    -   2. Compact plant habit; and    -   3. Vigorous growth habit.

Side-by-side comparisons between the new Dahlia cultivar ‘Bahamas’ andthe parental cultivars, ‘Borneo’ and ‘Lauren’, were conducted by theInventor in Fyn, Denmark. Table 1 provides a comparison of plants of‘Bahamas’ to plants of the parental cultivars:

TABLE 1 Characteristic ‘Bahamas’ ‘Borneo’ ‘Lauren’ Ray floret color Red,RHS 53A Red-purple, RHS 70A Red, RHS 59 A Leaf length Up to 12 cm 7-8 cmAbout 8.5 cm

Of the commercial cultivars known to the Inventor, the most similar incomparison to the new Dahlia cultivar ‘Bahamas’ is the female parentalcultivar, ‘Borneo’ (unpatented).

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The accompanying color photographs illustrate the overall appearance anddetails of inflorescence form color and structures of the new cultivar,showing the colors as true as it is reasonably possible to obtain incolor reproductions of this type. Colors in the photographs may differslightly from the color values cited in the detailed botanicaldescription, which accurately describe the actual colors of the newDahlia.

The first photograph is a side view of a typical flowering plant of‘Bahamas’ as grown in an 11 cm pot.

The second photograph is a top view of a typical flowering plant of‘Bahamas’.

The third photograph is a close-up of the inflorescence of ‘Bahamas’.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

The following observations, measurements and values describe plantsgrown under commercial conditions. Plants described were 12 to 14 weeksold, and were grown in a greenhouse in Fyn, Denmark with average daytemperatures of 18° C. to 25° C., and night temperatures of 16° C. Allcolor references are measured against The Royal Horticultural Society(R.H.S.) Colour Chart. Colors are approximate as color depends onhorticultural practices such as light level and treatment rate, amongothers, without however any variance in genotype.

-   Plant:    -   -   Form.—Globular, upright.        -   Height.—17 cm.        -   Spread.—20 cm.        -   Natural flowering season.—Summer to fall.        -   Crop time.—After rooting, about 10-12 weeks are required to            produce finished flowering plants in 11 cm pots.        -   Plant vigor.—Vigorous.        -   Root structure.—Fibrous.        -   Stem.—Dark yellow-green, RHS 144; glabrous; diameter 10-12            mm.        -   Lateral branches.—10 in quantity; 7-10 mm diameter; 10 cm in            length (including inflorescence); color: yellow-green, RHS            144.        -   Internode length.—3 cm.-   Foliage:    -   -   Leaves.—Quantity: 4-5 pairs per lateral branch.        -   Arrangement.—Opposite, decussate.        -   Length.—Up to 12 cm.        -   Width.—5-6 cm.        -   Shape.—Elliptical, acuminate tip, decurrent base, crenate            margin.        -   Texture.—Glabrous.        -   Color.—Young leaf upper side green RHS 136A; young leaf            under side gray-green RHS 189C; mature leaf upper side RHS            134A; mature leaf under side RHS 189C.        -   Venation.—Upper side RHS 135C; under side RHS 144A.        -   Petiole.—2 cm length, 5-8 mm diameter, color RHS 144A.-   Inflorescence:    -   -   Arrangement.—Composite inflorescences in leaf axils.        -   Inflorescence type.—Capitulum.        -   Inflorescence height.—2-3 cm.        -   Inflorescence width.—6 cm.        -   Flowering habit.—Upright.        -   Quantity of inflorescences.—2-3 per lateral stem.        -   Inflorescence longevity.—7 days on the plant.-   Bud:    -   -   Quantity.—2-3 per lateral stem (buds continue to develop            when dead inflorescences are removed).        -   Shape.—Globular.        -   Size.—Up to 2 cm in length, 1 cm diameter.        -   Color.—RHS 144C.-   Florets:    -   -   Shape.—Disc, tubular to single floret (lanceolate to rounded            tip); ray, single fused floret (oval and slightly involuate            to rounded tip).        -   Number.—About 20 disc florets and 70 ray florets per            capitulum (depending on light and temperature conditions).        -   Length.—Disc 2 mm; ray 25-30 mm.        -   Width.—Disc 2 mm; ray 15 mm.        -   Diameter.—Disc 2-3 mm.        -   Margin.—Disc and ray, entire.        -   Color.—Disk, yellow, RHS 13A at the apical end fading into            yellow-white, RHS 158C; ray, young upper side: red-purple,            between RHS 72B to 72C, mature upper side, red, RHS 53A with            gray-purple, RHS 184C at base mature under side, red-purple,            RHS 61A to 61B.-   Phyllaries:    -   -   Quantity.—Leaf-like, about 5-6; Scale-like, about 60.        -   Shape.—Leaf-like, oval with rounded tip and fused base;            scale-like, oval with acute tip and fused base.        -   Length.—Leaf-like, 12 mm; scale-like, 25 mm.        -   Width.—Leaf-like, 6 mm; scale-like, 5 mm.        -   Color.—Leaf-like, immature upper side, green, RHS 138A;            immature under side, green, RHS 143D; mature upper side,            green, RHS 137C; mature under side, gray-green, RHS 191B;            scale-like, immature upper side, translucent, yellow-green,            RHS 149B; immature under side, stripes of green, RHS 143A;            mature upper side, yellow-green, RHS 144C; mature under            side, gray-green, RHS 143A.-   Calyx: 3 mm length, 14 mm diameter.-   Peduncle: 5 cm length, 3 mm diameter; strength: strong; color young,    yellow-green, RHS 144B, to old, gray-brown, RHS 199A.-   Reproductive organs:-   Androecium:    -   -   Location.—Disc florets only.        -   Anthers.—5 mm in length, RHS 23B.        -   Pollen.—RHS 14A.-   Gynoecium:    -   -   Location.—Disc florets.        -   Pistils.—1 per disc floret, 15 mm length.        -   Stigma.—RHS 14A.        -   Style.—1 cm length, RHS 1B.        -   Ovary.—RHS 150B.-   Temperature tolerance: High tolerance to 35° C.; low tolerance to 0°    C.

1. A new and disctinct cultivar of Dahlia plant named ‘Bahamas’, asdescribed and illustrated herein.